Rating:
R
House:
Astronomy Tower
Characters:
Draco Malfoy Hermione Granger
Genres:
Romance Angst
Era:
Multiple Eras
Spoilers:
Philosopher's Stone Chamber of Secrets Prizoner of Azkaban Goblet of Fire Order of the Phoenix
Stats:
Published: 09/11/2003
Updated: 04/29/2004
Words: 140,457
Chapters: 31
Hits: 24,454

My Soul Mate

True Dragon

Story Summary:
COMPLETE. Draco is a Death-Eater, murderer and kidnapper. But is there a conscience underneath that super-callous image? And who is the person that is going to bring that out? And will Harry be able to kill Voldemort? Join Draco and Hermione in a whirlwind of love, pain, angst, magic, deaths and despair, with a most shocking end and a tale that goes on even after the story finishes.

Chapter 26

Chapter Summary:
Draco and Harry set out to get Hermione and the adventure starts.
Posted:
04/11/2004
Hits:
638
Author's Note:
Sorry for the delay - a huge writer's block and lots of homework. Read on now anyway.

Chapter Twenty Six - The Search Begins Again...

____________________________________________________________________________

Har ghadi badal rahi hai roop zindagi,
Chchaon hai kabhi, kabhi hai dhoop zindagi,
Har pal yahan, jee bhar jiyo,
Jo hai sama, kal ho naa ho.
Chahe jo tumhe, pure dil se,
Milta hai who, mushkil se,
Aisaa jo koi kahin hai,
Bas wohi sabse haseen hai.
Us haath ko, tum thamlo,
Who meherbaan, kal ho naa ho.
Ho, palkon ke leke saaye,
Paas koi jo aye,
Laakh sambhalo, pagal dilko,
Dil dhadke hi jaye.
Par soch lo, is pal hai jo.
Who daastan, kal ho naa ho.
-
Every moment life is changing its aspect,
Sometimes shadow, sometimes sunshine it is.
Each moment during it, live it completely,
What moment is now, who knows if it will be there tomorrow also?
The one who'd love you truly,
Is so difficult to get.
And the girl who does love me,
Is the best I have ever seen.
Hold that hand now,
Who knows if she'll be willing tomorrow also?
With her hooded eyes,
She comes near me.
Even though I try to control,
My crazy heart pounds against my chest.
I think about it, the moment that is now,
This legend ... who knows it will be there tomorrow also?

____________________________________________________________________________

It was raining hard late in the evening around half past six as usual in the equatorial areas in Africa. The Sahara and the Kalahari Deserts were, as usual, deprived of the heavy downpour. The clouds as usual veiled the blue sky, whose horizons were streaked with pink and gold sunrays, shooting through the water drops of the shower. If a rainbow had formed, it wouldn't have been visible through the thick cover of the dark and murky nimbus clouds or through the thick mixed forests near the Ethiopian Highlands, where Draco Malfoy sat on the forest floor, his mind as troubled as the contradictory weather over the entire continent.

The bullet-sized drops of the rain hit the earth ruthlessly. The earth was far too used to care. And Draco was far too preoccupied to notice it. The rainfall was neglected. Draco had traveled far away from the house to a place of which he only had recollection. He was close to the cave where he and Hermione had spent a night. He was sitting on the ground, leaning against an oak tree. He couldn't care less for the dangerous animals out there either. He just sat in the rain, his mind a fete of memories. Sweet and sour memories alike.

Draco remembered each moment that he had spent with Hermione since last September. He remembered Stunning her in Hogwarts and rebuking her in the house (where he supposed she was, all alone). He remembered carrying her when she had injured her foot and fighting with her the night when they had to run away, or rather, he had to run away. He remembered her saving his life when a vicious black mamba had bitten him and he remembered her gawking at the dragon on the cave. He remembered promising her that he'd go out in the rains with her.

Gradually, his memories freshened at the thought of Hogwarts. The time when he and Hermione had faced humiliation and embarrassment together. The time when he had given a yellow rose to her as an offer for his friendship. He remembered going out with her to Hogsmeade and into some Muggle town. He remembered confessing his love in the Grimmauld Place and kissing her for the first time there. He remembered Hermione showing him the locket he had given her for Christmas, which she had worn around her neck; accepting his love. And then he remembered her shouting and yelling at him, accusing him of being a nymphomaniac. He remembered himself hissing at her and telling her to get out of his life. He remembered her crying her eyes out and next moment; he was making love to her. He remembered leaving her there.

Little did he know that that was the greatest mistake of his life.

No. Draco Malfoy didn't.

Draco had ups and down in the road of his life every now and then. His life was quite smooth until his father's death. It all started after that. He got branded as a Death Eater in order to take Lucius' place. He murdered Hagrid. He kidnapped Hermione. He loved her. And then he hurt her.

Draco had joy and sorrow in his life in an equal amount, but the emotion with which he was the most experienced was guilt. Guilt at killing Hagrid. Guilt at hurting Hermione. Guilt at leaving her alone. Guilt at being the catalyst to the Devastation. He wasn't the only one to blame, of course. Harry Potter, Albus Dumbledore, Severus Snape and Kingsley Shacklebolt shared their equal parts with him. But it had taken Draco a lot of time to recover from the Devastation. But at least he managed to. Some lives, like the entire Weasley family, especially Ginny Weasley, and Harry Potter of course, never did. They remained the same ever since.

The sun sank behind the horizon. Light vanished. But the rain didn't stop. Nor did the Devastation that had already begun. When Draco got up to return back to the house, a cheaply coincidental phrase flashed in his memory. Nothing lasts forever.

But the teary memories did.

____________________________________________________________________________

Draco neared the house, drenched and cold. It was barely visible in the dark and rain. But Draco knew his path. He walked on. A small light glowed from the door of the house. It grew larger as he came closer. Draco wished that Snape and Shacklebolt would not have arrived while he was away. He would have to face a lot of awkward questions if they had and he knew that they wouldn't be pleased. Moreover, he decided to talk to Hermione and put an end to all that had happened recently and make a new start with her. They both were guilty and they both had atoned. It was enough. He was going to make a fresh beginning. And if Snape and Shacklebolt were there, everything would be delayed and Draco couldn't bear the tension anymore.

Draco stopped in front of the house. He was so preoccupied that he hadn't noticed that he had reached it. Draco breathed in heavily. He climbed up the steps and then walked into the house, not bothering to dry himself.

Snape and Shacklebolt hadn't come yet. That was the greatest mistakes of their lives.

Draco found no one in the house. It was as silent as a graveyard. No movement. Not even any sign of active life. Draco supposed that since Hermione was the only one in the house, she must have been in the bedroom. Slightly nervous, Draco made his way for the bedroom.

But Hermione wasn't there either.

Draco checked the bathroom. No Hermione.

Draco bit his lip. Where could she have gone in an unknown place? Draco came back to the bedroom. He noticed that the bed sheet was all crumpled and the bed undone. A flower vase from the table next to the vase had fallen down and shattered in a hundred pieces.

Strange, thought Draco. It was all right when I had left. But where is Hermione?

Then his eyes fell on a piece of parchment on the very table. It wasn't about the Emancipation Potion. It was Lord Voldemort's letter.

Draco Malfoy

(it said) - How clever of you that you got the recipe of the blasted potion even after I had destroyed your last source! But did you know that turning on me was catastrophic? If you didn't, then you'll know now. You can keep the recipe, since I have no Death Eaters alive that your uncle's darned potion could unfetter. No matter, you are still alive and you will be killed. Along with the Mudblood, Hermione Granger. I am taking her. Where, I of course wouldn't tell. Get her if you want to and if you can. But if you get into the 'ring' of Lord Voldemort's power, then you can never escape. Never.
Lord Voldemort.

Draco blinked. He read the letter again. And again. He couldn't believe it. Hermione was kidnapped? By Voldemort?

The earth slipped under Draco's feet. The sky ended. Disbelieve and shock swept over him like a smothering blanket. Draco could not believe it. Hermione is playing a game on me, he decided. She is punishing me because I've hurt her.

Draco read the letter, hoping against hope that his hopes were true. But when Draco saw the word 'ring', he knew that whatever the letter said was true.

It was one of Voldemort's favorite sayings: It was impossible to get out of the 'ring' of Lord Voldemort's power. There was simply no way out. None.

"No!" Draco shouted at no one, folding the letter in his hands and feeling hot tears forming in his eyes, obscuring his vision. "No!"

He ran a hand through his un-gelled hair, messing it up. The tears started flowing. Draco couldn't think straight. Voldemort kidnapped Hermione ... Hermione was gone ... and he, Draco, will have to face Voldemort in order to save her.

It was hardly possible.

But Draco would get her, at any costs. Even if he had to die. He would save her. He surely would. He would go now. Right now.

Draco was about to go when he stopped. He took several calming breaths and started thinking properly. He just couldn't go to find Voldemort all by himself. He needed to contact the Order first. Inform them. He would have to. He needed their help.

So Draco Apparated in front of the Hogwarts grounds, knowing only this strategy could make sure that he killed Voldemort one day. He didn't care that Harry was the one who should kill the Dark Lord according to the Prophecy. Not him.

Draco didn't care about that. He would rip Voldemort and hack him for his daring. Once inside Hogwarts, he made his way for Dumbledore's office.

____________________________________________________________________________

An hour later, Draco found himself walking back to the Prefects' quarters. Dragging his feet most likely. His mind was not on what he was doing. Only memories and apprehensive thoughts flooded into him. Draco cringed frequently when he remembered the pitiable conditions Voldemort bestowed upon Muggle-borns and Muggles.

He hoped against hope again that Hermione would be unscathed, wherever she was.

Draco reached the Founding Fours' painting. He stared at the painting, his eyes out of focus for a long time. It was all that Godric Gryffindor could do to make him notice the entrance.

"PASSWORD?"

Draco blinked and looked at Gryffindor in his red robes, glaring at him. "Allegro Passinato." he said tonelessly.

The painting swung forwards to reveal the all too familiar portrait hole. And when Draco was through it, he met the all too familiar people in the quarters. Ron Weasley, Ginny Weasley and Harry Potter.

"Malfoy!" Harry and Ron exclaimed. Ginny looked up and shrieked, "Draco!"

Draco acknowledged Ron and Ginny's presence, but behaved as though Harry was not present there at all. Ron was pacing the ground and Harry and Ginny were sitting on the chairs, their faces tense and confused.

"Malfoy," said Ron, walking hurriedly towards Draco, "what the hell is going on? And what are the rumors all about?"

Draco didn't answer for a long time. Then he said, "Why have you all come here?"

Harry narrowed his eyes at Draco and was about to say something when Ginny cut him off. "We don't know exactly why we are here," she said. "Everything is messed up. Let me tell you what happened in Egypt. Ron and I reached there at around four, at the same time you and Hermione went to Africa. Snape and Shacklebolt were there too. They were working on something and they were about to set off to Africa at around half past six when they received some important news and they came here instead. They came to Hogwarts."

"Mum wouldn't let us know immediately what exactly happened," grumbled Ron, "but at around seven, we got message that there's an urgent Order meeting and all concerned were to assemble at Hogwarts."

"I don't know why they chose to meet here, I mean the students haven't gone, have they? Why not the Grimmauld Place?"

"Because that place has been found out," said Draco, his voice unusually even. "Voldemort knows about it."

"What!"

"Yes, I have just seen Dumbledore," said Draco. He took a deep breath. "I was with Hermione in Africa in a house. We had a small run in regarding some recent events," he paused to glare at Harry, who looked away. "Anyway, I was with Hermione and after a little fight, I left the house for half an hour or so. And when I returned, I found this."

Draco stretched his arm to Ron. Draco was still holding Voldemort's letter in his palm.

Confused, Ron took it. Harry and Ginny came over and read it by his shoulder.

They all gasped after reading the letter. Harry's eyes were ablaze and Ron's face was purpled. Ginny, on the other hand, looked scared.

"Draco..."

"Hermione is gone," said Draco. "Voldemort took her."

"But not forever," said Harry. "I'll find her. I'll kill Voldemort!"

"No!" screamed Ginny. "Are you crazy? This is exactly what You-Know-Who wants! Remember your dream, Harry? At Sirius's? You can't go!"

"I don't care about who is going or not," hissed Draco, "but I am going. And I am going now."

"You're out of your mind," said Ginny. Turning the point of conversation, she said, "What did Dumbledore tell you, by the way?"

"I came to him directly after reading the letter. He told me that an Order member had turned against us and is helping Voldemort. He passed on the information where Hermione would be going. Bastard!"

"Who is it?" asked Harry.

"That Judas? Some Morretti."

Harry bit his lip. "Where is he?"

"Azkaban. The Order's got hold of him and Black has knocked the hell out of him. He's unconscious in Azkaban."

"And what is the Order doing about it?"

"They'll question him when he comes back to sense. But before that the Order will have a meeting."

"And we are not attending it," said Ron, outraged. "Mum said that we aren't!"

"That doesn't matter," said Harry impatiently, "it's lucky in fact. The Order will have the meeting without us and I can go."

"Where?" asked Ginny.

"To Azkaban of course. I'll question that Morretti first, before the Order. If he has information, then I'll set off to find Hermione. And even if he doesn't, I'll find her anyway."

"Have you gone daft? You cannot do that!"

"I don't care if he can or not," said Draco loudly, "but I am going to Azkaban!"

"No!"

"Yes!" said Harry and Draco together. They shot each other a glare.

"Hermione," said Draco firmly, "is mine. She is my responsibility and I will find her out. Even if I have give my life in the case."

"Draco -"

"And I am going too," cut in Harry. "I am s'posed to kill Voldemort according to the Prophecy, not him. He can snatch Hermione and I'll kill that bastard."

"What nonsense! Don't talk rubbish!"

"No I am not talking rubbish," said Draco angrily. "I am going!"

"And I am going too!"

Ginny looked at Harry and Draco wordlessly.

"Ginny," said Ron reasonably, "they need to go. We can't waste time like the Order. All the Order plans are flops! It's time we acted in the proper way."

"This is not the proper way!"

"This is,"

"I'll tell everybody."

"No you won't," said Draco He turned to Ron and said, "Weasley, you stay back and keep me informed of what is going on here. It might take me several days."

"What d'you mean by 'me'?" asked Harry. "It's us."

"Whatever. It is hard to believe you care for what is mine."

"Hermione is not your possession, Malfoy." snapped Harry.

"She is. She is mine. Only mine."

Harry wanted to smack Draco then and there. But he knew Draco could beat the pulp out of him. And Ron wouldn't help him either. He hadn't said a word to him after they met together in the quarters. Clearly, he hadn't forgiven him for his dirty plot with Pansy.

Harry hadn't yet felt guilty about it, but later, he did. He did so much that it led to his own devastation.

"Stop it both of you," said Ron. "You both are going, fine? But how will you get to Azkaban? I mean, what means will you use? And who knows the way to that place? It is not simple."

"Well..." said Harry, rubbing his chin, "we have only one way. We'll have to fly."

"Fly? But that will take you ages to reach there!"

"Right," said Draco, "but I know the way to Azkaban. I met my father on his deathbed there. I think we'll have to fly to my house. And then, I have the visitor's route."

"Good," said Harry, "we can do that. But if we fly straightaway like that, won't we be noticed?"

"You have the Invisibility Cloak." Ron pointed out.

"But that can't cover two people on two broomsticks."

"You both will go together."

Draco glowered at Ron and Harry at the suggestion. But he didn't have any way out either. "All right, but I will fly."

"I am a better flier."

"I know the way to my house."

Harry glowered at Draco again.

"I guess you will have to fly then, Malfoy," said Ron. "But both of you have to compromise. And there's no time to waste. Harry, go get your cloak. Malfoy, you get your broomstick. You both will have to take flight from here, I don't think you'll be allowed outside."

Harry and Draco glared at each other once again before disappearing into the Slytherin and Ravenclaw dormitories respectively. In a minute, both of them were back. Draco walked near the window and mounted his new broom, The Firebolt. Harry sat behind him, holding the Invisibility Cloak.

"Harry ... Draco," said Ginny meekly. Everybody turned to look at her. They had almost forgotten that she was present. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

Draco nodded.

"Yes," said Harry. "I am sorry but Hermione needs me."

"Me," said Draco acidly. "She'll be horrified to see you, considering what you've done to her."

Harry avoided looking at Draco's face.

"Well, if you say so," said Ginny, her voice choking and her eyes watering. "Be ... be careful."

"We will."

Ginny looked away.

Harry draped the Invisibility Cloak on himself and Draco. They vanished immediately.

"Goodbye," their voices said and Ron and Ginny felt a sudden whoosh and they knew that they were gone.

Forever.

____________________________________________________________________________

The Order meeting ended at around nine o' clock in the night. It was being held in one of the dungeons under the school. Sirius had been to see that Draco, Harry, Ron and Ginny were all right. He, of course, hadn't found Draco and Harry. Ron lied that they were in their rooms, wishing to see no one. Sirius had shrugged and went away, telling them that they should not even stir out anywhere until they were told that everything was safe.

But Ron and Ginny of course hadn't obviously obeyed. They had eavesdropped on the members and that acted further as a catalyst to stimulate the Devastation.

With a pair of Extendable Ears, Ron and Ginny heard the most important part of Dumbledore's speech.

"Now, my friends," Dumbledore was saying, "the time has come for me to reveal the true idea behind killing Lord Voldemort."

Ron and Ginny shot each other excited looks, the pink Ears attached to their own.

"We all know why Voldemort had failed to kill Harry when he was only an year old," Dumbledore continued. "Just before her death, Lily Potter had left Harry a shield. A shield made of love and sacrifice. She had sacrificed herself to let Harry live. The shield protected Harry against Voldemort. Voldemort couldn't overcome the barrier earlier. That barrier protected Harry for years until Voldemort got the protection too through Harry's blood. So this time, we will provide Harry with such a barrier again. And the only difference will be that Voldemort will know nothing about it, so Harry can kill him when he is unsuspecting."

"Does this mean," said another voice that neither Ron nor Ginny recognized, "that this time someone has to die also?"

There was a long silence.

"Yes," replied Dumbledore gravely at last, "someone has to die to give Harry that barrier of sacrifice. Someone who loves Harry more than anything in the world."

Ron and Ginny exchanged horrified looks. Ron opened his mouth wordlessly. But Ginny looked suddenly somber and bit her lip thoughtfully.

"So naturally," went on Dumbledore, "we need someone who will readily die for Harry and perform the easy old magic to leave a protection with Harry."

Almost immediately, Sirius spoke up. "Then I'll do it."

Ron and Ginny gasped.

"No you can't," said Dumbledore. "We need a female to die because the love from a woman is a hundred times stronger than a man. The shield wouldn't be strong enough."

A long silence followed.

"But Dumbledore," said Arthur Weasley's voice, "even if someone dies for Harry, wouldn't Harry be furious?"

Another silence followed. Ron and Ginny never knew what Dumbledore's response was. They suspected that he must have given some sign or something.

"Moreover," said McGonagall, "even if we find someone, will she be able to perform the magic?"

"Yes, she will be. All that the lady would need to do is think of Harry intensely and repeat in the mind Schutz Opfer and then ... sacrifice herself."

This added to the Devastation again.

____________________________________________________________________________

Covered in the Invisibility cloak, Draco and Harry flew on the Firebolt under the full moon and in the chilly winds of January. A stretch of mixed trees of the Forbidden Forest were below as the nearly crossed it, the leaves swaying to the direction of the moist westerlies. Draco was flying the broom towards his manor.

Harry looked down and saw a streak of white flash in between two trees in the moonlight.

"Hey, that's an unicorn!" he cried.

Draco looked down and saw a unicorn flee with full speed down, in the Forest. "Yeah ... good."

"What's good?" asked Harry.

"Unicorns bring luck to the Gemini, Potter," Draco explained. "And misfortune to the Leo."

Harry gulped. Misfortune to the Leo? Just a superstition, he consoled himself. Or Malfoy's stupid joke. "Where is your house, Malfoy?" he asked, keeping his mind of the horned horse.

"I don't have a house."

"Excuse me?"

"I don't have a house," repeated Draco, taking a sharp turn to the right, "I have a huge manor."

"Whatever," said Harry and scowled at the back of Draco's blonde head. "But where is it, anyway? When shall we reach there?"

"It'll take about an hour or so," snapped Draco, trying to push Voldemort out of his head. "It's in Wiltshire."

"Wiltshire? That must be quite far away!"

"No it isn't. Hogwarts is near Wiltshire instead. I have come to Hogwarts quite a few times during the summer holidays and it only takes about an hour."

"But why will you come to Hogwarts?"

"My father used to be a school governor, Potter," Draco drawled, "and why are you bothering me with your stupid questions?"

"Hey, I need to know!"

"So that you'll come to my manor for the holidays instead of going back to the Muggles?" asked Draco. "I advise you not to because Hermione wouldn't want to see me in your company."

"I could do better with a hut than go to your place!" said Harry. "And you're wrong. Hermione wouldn't want to see me in your company."

"I won't bet on that. When we find her, you'll see how upset she'll get at seeing you. You've spoiled too much already."

Harry kept quiet. He didn't know what to say to Draco, because a small part of him agreed with him. They flew on, zooming and swooping. A brown barn owl flew by in the opposite direction; a parcel tied to its legs. After a moment, Harry said uneasily, "What does she see in you that isn't in me?"

Draco snorted in spite of himself. "Oh, we are jealous, Potty, are we?"

"Of course not! Why would I be jealous of you?"

"Because I have Hermione, not you."

"But why you?" blurted out Harry. "Why you of all people?"

"There are many reasons, Potter," said Draco softly. "You know what our strength is? We understand each other the best and we have faith in each other."

"But Ron and I understand her also and we trust each other too!"

"Love is the advanced form of friendship, Potter. You won't understand. I made Hermione feel different, and no, it isn't all about sex, Potter. We never had sex."

"I know Hermione would never do that with you," said Harry gleefully.

"I won't bet on that again, Potter. I can shag her anytime I want to and she'll be only too happy about it. But we know that it's not the time for that."

"But that doesn't explain what's so special about you that she loves you so much! More than her oldest friends!"

"Draco Malfoy refuses from answering. Never let thy foe know thou too well."

"Very funny."

"No, don't you tell me funny!"

Harry snorted this time. "I am not highly interested in your good qualities either, Malfoy. Let's get back to business."

"A brilliant suggestion that should have occurred to Scarhead minutes before."

Harry scowled again. Ignoring Draco's comment, he said, "After we reach your house," Draco made an indignant sound, "I meant manor, okay? After we reach your manor, Malfoy, how shall we go to Azkaban?"

"Through the visitors route," replied Draco. "Mother and I used it to visit father in Azkaban."

"But shall we have to fly again?"

"No, we'll use Furnaco Powder."

"Come again?"

"Furnaco Powder," repeated Draco slowly and clearly. "It's like Floo Powder, but is more efficient. It is faster and is highly expensive."

"Can we go to Azkaban with that?"

"Yes, we can."

"But why not use Floo Powder?" asked Harry. Harry particularly didn't like traveling through fireplaces and he was in mood to experiment a new one.

"Azkaban is not connected to the Floo Network. The Floo Network is for common men to use, while Furnaco is used by the Ministry's important places, like Azkaban and the Minister for Magic's office."

"I see, but d'you have some of the Furnaco powder?"

"Plenty, since father always had work with the important people of the Ministry."

"I am not looking forward to hearing your dead father's praise, Malfoy. Get to Wiltshire soon."

Draco stiffened. Under normal circumstances, he would have rather slowed down to get back to Harry, but in this case, Hermione's welfare was concerned and Draco put an extra jerk to speed up his Firebolt.

"After we get to Azkaban, what shall we do?" asked Harry.

"Get to Morretti, you idiot," Draco coldly.

"I know that, Malfoy. But I hope you know the place well. How is it?"

"It's in an Unplottable small island, don't ask me the name, no one knows. Anyway, the goal is surrounded in all sides by water. Azkaban is black in color with a wide and hexagonal, one floored building with windows all around. And then, it has about fifty towers rising above it, each about eighty feet high."

"Right then. There aren't anymore Dementors there, are there?"

"Course not. The Dementors are all gone. Azkaban's being guarded by Ministry force."

"So how will we get in?" asked Harry. "I don't think that we can simply step out of a furnace to a room full of Ministry people."

"Course not, why do you have the Invisibility Cloak then? We will come out of a fireplace on another island, about half a mile far away from Azkaban. When I went last time, we had to sail on a ship. But you can fly."

"Me?"

"Of course, who else did you expect you'll get to fly the broom? Longbottom? Or worse, Filch?"

"What about you?"

"I can't step beyond any point once the water starts."

"Why not?"

Draco took a deep breath. "I can't go in there, because I still bear the Dark Mark and technically, I am still a Death Eater. There are security buzzes everywhere in that damned place to detect the presence of Death Eaters. I can't go."

"Even though this is a certainly cheerful aspect in all the gloom," said Harry, "how will I manage alone? I have never seen that place. How will I find Morretti?"

"Simple. I told you there are about fifty towers. The towers are cells for the prisoners. And since Azkaban has no other criminals in it except Morretti, you can find his tower easily."

"Easily? It'll take me ages to search fifty towers!"

"Merlin Potter, were you always that stupid or is it an after affect of sleeping with Longbottom? The tower where Ministry people will be flooding, which they surely be doing, will naturally be Morretti's tower."

"Right. I didn't think about that."

"It takes to have some brains to think about that, Potter and Longbottom clearly -"

"Shut up!"

"Unfortunately, no, I am not shutting up. You need to know more."

"Then get done with it!"

"I'll be glad to. Okay, here's the plan. We will reach Wiltshire and then go to my manor. My manor's protected too, mind you. Though of course I know the way round, we mustn't be seen. So under your cloak we will go to my bedroom. I'll go down and get the Furnaco Powder. Then with the cloak and broom, we'll go to the island next to Azkaban."

"What will I do when you are away? I guess I'll come too."

"No you won't. My father hated Gryffindor blood and there are detectors for Gryffindors and muggles and muggle-borns. I can shut them up in my room but I can't see to each and every one of the hundreds of them. You'll stay in my room while I get the Furnaco Powder. Is that clear?"

"Yes."

"Fine. After getting to that island, I'll wait and you'll go. You will find Morretti and get all the information you can from him. Then you'll come back and we will find Hermione and Voldemort. That's enough for now. Any questions?"

"No."

"Good, off to Wiltshire then."

With another sharp burst of speed, Draco and Harry flew towards Wiltshire.

____________________________________________________________________________


Author notes: Hope you liked it! Next chapter coming soon. And got any questions or suggestions? Mail me or send me a private owl. This fic is dediacted to my father (my greatest inspiration), my sisters (Didi & Sony), my friends (Jaydith Bhai, Tanaya, Shradha, Sohini, Praptasha & Sweta), Pallavi (who brought me o Fiction Alley), my betas (Karalee A & Karalee B), all my reviewers (Palm Dor, solisflos, Why Cant I Breathe, PinkTribeChick, twista, iheartdraco, Roxieca18, Forever Callie, Dark Mistress, Moefodraco, MadameButterfly424, Brittney, Angelbabby, loving, tabitoo, The Sweetest Things, Dreaming One, Kelea13, Noni, orelab, babishorty919, Lady Regan, Black Manor, J. C. Skyliea, susperman_luver, Galeen, Clee, Fiery_Punk_Prnicess, ladybug3dana, midnite shadow, dracal, loverofMalfoy013, cescalina, slytherinrules85, hilarystrachan, FieryWater23, SlytherinQueen, indianoutlaw, moonless_me, Hedwigfan02, Ilona, The Blue Lady, stephynicole, lovin_tom, roguefirebolt18, Book woman, adrift88, LadyRavenclaw, Flobberbottom, I Love Malfoy, Drag Queen Malfoy, katers007, Aine rowan, Euphoniumgurl0, SkyreneaMcGonagall, embrace, ScarletAngel, malicious, mystry, Rapscallion, LadyPadfoot, sherlock homes, BlkHermione, caitdagr8, carrot merengue, Seriphinia, shirin, promise, the_savvy_fairy, DarkDracoStar, embrace, feedbackgirl, iheartdraco, orelab and ashley_donan), all those authors who answerd me (Gia, Jilly, Rissa, Fire Goddess, Kali, Theadora, krisis and jedibutterfly) and my most recent alpha, Aaron (author of The Ichor and the Blood on Schnoogle).

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